NFL: Adrian Peterson chasing a win, not record

How dominant has Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson been this season? He could sit out the final two games and likely have no trouble winning the NFL rushing title.

Peterson enters today’s game against the Texans in Houston with a league-leading 1,812 yards. That puts him a whopping 433 yards ahead of his nearest challenger, Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch, who’s having a heck of a season himself.

The rushing title would be nice, especially since Peterson saw last season end after tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee on Christmas Eve. But that’s not the crown he covets.

Peterson (see chart below) needs 188 yards to become the seventh player in league history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. He’s 294 yards away from surpassing Eric Dickerson’s all-time mark of 2,105 yards, which has stood since 1984.

He’s got a chance at surpassing Dickerson, but it’s not going to be easy. The Texans rank fifth in the league in run defense and next week’s opponent, the Green Bay Packers, are 14th.

Peterson has been on a roll, though. He has rushed for 100-plus yards in eight consecutive games and is averaging 161.1 for a total of 1,313 during that span. That’s the most rushing yards in an eight-game stretch in league history.

But there’s an interesting dynamic in play here. The Vikings are 8-6 and part of large pack chasing the two NFC wild-card berths. Although what is generally good for Peterson is good for the Vikings, an individual’s goal is not at the top of the team’s priority list.

That’s something second-year coach Leslie Frazier and Peterson, a four-time All-Pro, have discussed and are in agreement on.

“The record would be great, but the most important thing is to get a win in Houston,” Frazier told the Minnesota media last week. “The fact that he feels that way will permeate through the rest of our team. He wants to really concentrate on winning this game more so than the record.

“Our players are enthused by what he’s been doing. He’s been incredible to watch. They are pulling for him without question, but I think every one of our guys knows the importance of winning this game. If the record comes, that would be terrific, but the most important thing is to get a win.”

The Vikings are seeking their fourth playoff berth in 12 years and their first since 2009.

Peterson, who leads the NFL with 8,564 yards and 75 rushing touchdowns since entering the league as the seventh overall pick in 2007, also has another impressive league record within his reach.

A.D. is averaging 6.3 yards a carry. That’s just off the 6.4 the great Jim Brown averaged for the Cleveland Browns in 1953 and Jamaal Charles of the Kansas City Chiefs matched in 2010.

Detroit receiver Calvin Johnson went into Saturday night’s game against the Falcons needing 182 yards to surpass Jerry Rice’s league record of 1,848 receiving yards in a season, set in 1995. Johnson came in with seven straight 100-yard games, tying him with Charley Hennigan (Houston, 1961) and Michael Irvin (Dallas, ’95) for the league record. … Texans receiver Andre Johnson needs one reception to give him 800 for his career. He’d reach that milestone in 136 games, faster than all but one player in league history. It took Marvin Harrison of the Colts 131 games to get there. … Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is one win shy of extending his league record for most 12-win seasons to nine. Tom Brady needs two wins to become the only other QB with at least seven such seasons.

Some quick hits and (hopefully) useful numbers with regard to this week’s games: The Panthers are 3-2 in their past five games, both losses coming by six points. QB Cam Newton has thrown 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions while rushing for 293 yards and three touchdowns during that stretch. … The Chiefs are 1-6 at home, the losses coming by 16, 17, 3, 10, 22, and 8 points. The Colts are 3-4 on the road, two of the wins coming by six points or less. … The Bills are 4-3 in their last seven trips to Miami. … The Jets defeated the Chargers, 27-21, last season in New York. … The Redskins are 3-2 in their last five trips to Philadelphia. … The Bengals are 4-5 in their last nine trips to Pittsburgh. They’re 5-2 on the road this season. … The 49ers have won four straight against the Seahawks, by 19, 16, 2 and 7 points.

Some random thoughts in no particular order:

•Got to give the Fickle Foxboro Faithful credit for mostly sticking it out last Sunday night after watching the Patriots fall behind by 28 points in the third quarter to the 49ers on a miserable night with work and/or school staring them in the face the next day.

•Titans running back Chris Johnson’s 94-yard touchdown run against the Jets in Week 15 was timed by ESPN in 10.48 seconds. That’s simply amazing considering he’s in pads, running on grass, and he stumbled at the end.

•Assuming he’d be willing to play a position other than quarterback, I wouldn’t mind seeing Tim Tebow land in New England once he’s cut by the Jets (no one is trading for him).

•Nnamdi Asomugha was 37-91 (.289) with the Raiders from 2003 to ’10. The Eagles have gone 12-20 (.375) since the All-Pro cornerback and all-around good guy landed in Philadelphia. Go figure.

•May you all find peace, comfort and joy during this holiday season and in the year to come.

Material used in this report was collected from personal interviews, wire services, Web sites, and league sources. Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com.

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